Celco Heating and Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for April, 2014

Air conditioning replacement is a serious undertaking and most of us would prefer to just keep going with our existing units before buying a new one. Sooner or later, however, your existing system is going to wear out, and when it does, a new one will be necessary. Here in Milford, air conditioning replacement services are on hand to do the job, but how do you know that the time has come to install a new system?

AC Replacement Considerations

“How much am I spending?” A major repair could feel like quite a pinch, and with an older unit, it may not be worth the price when you can just buy a new AC for just a little more. More importantly, wear and tear on your existing unit could severely reduce its efficiency, resulting in much higher monthly bills. If you’re feeling that pinch, it might be time to invest in a new air conditioner instead of sticking with the old one.

“How frequent are repairs?” Similarly, individual repairs to your air conditioner may not be much in and of themselves, but if you’re making them fairly often, it could be a sign that your existing unit has just about run its course. Frequent repairs could eventually mean throwing good money after bad, and a new unit could be the solution you need.

“How old is my unit?” If you have an air conditioner that’s more than ten years old, it might not mean anything in and of itself, especially if you’ve kept it well maintained. On the other hand, if your older unit exhibits signs of wear or is undergoing frequent repairs, then its age may be the final sign that a new air conditioner is needed.

If, after considering these things before air conditioning replacement, you need to go ahead with a new unit, then the experts at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning can help.

Here in Milford, air conditioning replacement services don’t come with any more professionalism or commitment to quality than ours. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

With summer approaching fast, now is a good time to take care of installing a new air conditioning system to replace your old model. Replacing a central air conditioner is a large task, but in the hands of professional installers you should encounter few problems and the work will proceed quickly. In most situations, the physical installation job will require less than a day.

However, there are a few extra things you should consider when you choose to install a new air conditioner. We’ve listed three questions to ask yourself when you are starting out.

Call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning. We have handled air conditioning installation in Stamford, CT since 1976. You can trust to our expertise.

I. Should you go ductless?

Ductless mini split heat pumps give you an option for cooling down your house without the need for space-eating ductwork that can develop dust and dirt. Ductless systems also provide heating power as well, making for a great two-in-one solution for your comfort needs. If you are planning a new home or adding on a room, you should give ductless cooling serious consideration.

II. How large an AC do you need?

The philosophy “you can never go too big” doesn’t work with air conditioners. An AC that is oversized for the space it must cool down will start to shut off prematurely, before completing its cooling cycle. This “short cycling” will drain power and cause the system to age early. If the AC is undersized, it will fail to adequately cool down your home, resulting in warm spots. You need to consult with HVAC installation technicians to properly size your new air conditioner, so make sure you have the professionals involved in the process from the very beginning.

III. Should you upgrade the thermostat as well?

People often neglect the thermostat when they have new air conditioning installation. Although installers will have no trouble wiring up your new AC to an older thermostat, this is an opportune moment to upgrade to one of the technologically advanced thermostat models. If you still have an older manual thermostat, then you definitely should move up to a digital programmable model, which will help you save money and increase your comfort. But even if you’ve already gone digital, you now have the choice of Wi-Fi enabled models that provide control from almost anywhere through your smart phone, tablet, or other Wi-Fi device.

Our staff at Celco Heating and Air Conditioning wants you to receive the best air conditioning installation in Stamford, CT that you can. Our skilled technicians will help you at every stage of the process to make sure you end up with the ideal air conditioner for your home. We can advise you on ductless mini splits and install a variety of cutting edge thermostats. Call us today to set up an appointment.

Spring… time to prepare for the summer heat. The best protection you have against the highs of summer is an effective air conditioner working in your home. An AC that’s in danger of malfunctions, break downs, or uneven cooling needs attention right away so summer won’t sneak up on you unprepared. Here are some signs your air conditioner needs a maintenance visit this spring from a trained HVAC technician.

Call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning today and speak to one of our staff about arranging air conditioning maintenance in Westport, CT.

3 warnings you need to schedule AC maintenance

An increase in electricity bills: If you’ve already started running your air conditioner this spring, take a look at you electrical bill to see if it shows a significant increase compared to what you paid at the same time last year. An air conditioner overdue for cleanings and adjustments will start overworking and drain power, raising your bills. The longer the system goes without maintenance, the higher the bills will rise. An AC without regular maintenance works on average 20% less efficiently than one that does.

A decrease in cooling power: If the temperature from your air conditioner feels warmer than usual, and you keep setting the thermostat lower and lower to make the system run long enough to keep you cool, then the AC needs a check up to see if anything is wrong and if fine-tuning will help it run better.

Short-cycling: This is a term that refers to an air conditioner that keeps turning off after running for only a short time, stopping before it can complete its full cooling cycle. This can happen because of a number of problems, from dirty coils to leaking refrigerant. Have this looked into right away before the short-cycling causes a large drain in energy.

To be honest, you don’t actually need signs to tell you to schedule maintenance. If your air conditioner received maintenance last spring, then you should have it done again this spring. Annual maintenance is mandatory for your AC to run its best and to reach its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan. Even if you notice nothing wrong with your air conditioner, if a year has passed since its last inspection and tune-up, then it’s time for maintenance.

Call Celco Heating and Air Conditioning for the air conditioning maintenance in Westport, CT that will keep you cool all through summer. Our maintenance program also includes a 15% discount on services and priority scheduling. Call today to enroll.

Fireplaces are wonderful additions to your home, providing inexpensive heating as well as a marvelous romantic atmosphere. But they can also suffer damage from inclement weather and other issues, and sometimes replacing an old fireplace is preferable to installing a new one. Here in Milford CT, our technicians experienced in fireplace installation services will be happy to replace a damaged or ineffective fireplace for you, and will also help explain what’s involved in fireplace replacement. A brief rundown follows.

In Milford, CT, fireplace installation can be performed by experienced professionals here at Celco Heating and Air conditioning. Schedule an initial consultation today.

First of all, the technician determines which aspects of your existing fireplace can remain, and what kind of space is available for a new one. Things such as the venting pipe might not require replacing, and the technician will need to make careful measurements of the hearth and the height of the chimney to ensure that the new fireplace matches the old one.

The old fireplace is then carefully dismantled, using supports and stabilizers to maintain structural integrity of your home in the process. Again, depending on the nature of the damage in question, you may be able to retain certain components from the old system. The technician will then place metal hearth strips at the base of the structure and ensure that the fireplace is level. He or she will then assemble the chimney sections, which can be anything from a large venting pipe to a brick edifice depending on your fireplace. The firestop spaces will be installed in the top of the chimney (providing air space to protect the rest of the home’s structure from any heat from the fireplace). An insulation shield will be put in, followed by the chimney assembly itself. (That last step will include securing the chimney so that it remains stable within the space.) Roof flashing and any chimney tops will be added, and finally any missing components of the hearth will be installed.

Knowing what’s involved in fireplace replacement means understanding that you need a quality professional to put it together. We have the skills you need to make such a project work beautifully, so pick up the phone and give us a call today!